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Timely Warning Policy

Campus wide timely warnings are provided to give students, faculty, and staff timely notification of crimes and other events that may represent a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. This communication is prepared as part of the timely warning requirement of the Clery Act.

When a crime is reported to or brought to the attention of college authorities, the Dean of Student Affairs, in cooperation with the President and/or representatives of crisis management team, will determine if that crime represents a serious or ongoing threat to the safety of members of the college community. The situation may be on or off campus. Information for timely warnings may also come from other law enforcement agencies. If the decision is made to issue a timely warning, these designees will request that the Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer and/or Public Relations Office issue a timely warning. Decisions to issue a timely warning will be made on a case-by-case basis, including such factors as: the nature of the crime, the continuing danger to the community, and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts.

Timely warnings are distributed in one or more of the following ways:

Posting on electronic bulletin boards, including Blackboard and myCOMPASS

Bulletin boards

NCMC alert text messaging

Email

News release

NCMC website

Phone System

Timely warnings will be issued to the entire campus community. Every attempt will be made to issue the warning within a reasonable amount of time; however, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident, and investigation restraints.

Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the Dean of Student Affairs by phone at 660-359-3948, Ext. 1400 or in person at the Alexander Student Center. If they are not available, report to the Chief Financial Officer (Ext. 1500) or President (Ext. 1200).

When timely warnings are issued, victims’ names will be kept confidential. Timely warnings differ from emergency notifications (which are discussed more in the next section of this report). The table below briefly summarizes the scope, when, where, and why timely warnings or emergency notifications are made.

Why: Emergency notification is triggered by an event that is currently occurring on or imminently threatening the campus. Emergency notification procedures will be initiated for any significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus.

Why: Timely warnings are triggered by crimes that have already occurred (and may be continuing) but which represent an ongoing threat. A timely warning will be issued for certain crimes that are reported to campus security authorities or local law enforcement agencies and are considered by the College to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees.

Where: Applies to situations that occur on campus

Where: Applies to crimes that occur on campus, in or on non-campus buildings or property, and on public property.

When: Procedures will be initiated immediately and without delay upon confirmation that a dangerous situation or emergency exists or threatens

When: A warning will be issued as soon as the pertinent information is available.